Devil May Cry 5
Fans have been eagerly anticipating the next true installment in the Devil May Cry series for quite some time, and boy did Capcom deliver with DMC 5 in March.
Powered by the fantastic RE Engine, which has already been utilized in Resident Evil 7 and RE2 Remake respectively, the game delivers the fast-paced, hack-and-slash demon hunting synonymous with the series in breathtaking beauty.
Set several years after the events of Devil May Cry 4, this latest entry sees the seeds of a ‘demon tree’ terrorize Red Grave City, essentially sprouting up and eating people.
With three different playable characters, each of which feel distinctly different to use in combat, Devil May Cry 5’s stylish combat never ceases to get old throughout its 11-hour duration.
From Nero’s various Devil Breaker mechanical arms to the more traditional DMC combat experience with Dante, the game feels like three distinctly different experiences packed into one, comprehensive celebration of Devil May Cry.
With plenty of different difficulty levels to choose from and unlock too, there’s plenty of reason to return and test your skills.
Devil May Cry 5’s hack-and-slash combat is a veritable treat that makes you feel as bad-ass as the game looks beautiful (and that’s a lot). Whether you’re a newcomer or someone deeply invested in the series, this is one truly worth checking out.
Crackdown 3
It’s been quite the wait for Microsoft’s latest entry in the Crackdown series, and honestly, it’s not quite what many had been hoping for. However, if you enjoy it for what it is — a bonkers and explosive fun time — then you could do a lot worse.
Just don’t expect anything overly next-gen about Crackdown 3. It’s very much more of what we got in the Xbox 360 titles, and with similar visuals and handling to boot.
You’re tasked with taking down the big dogs of the TerraNova corporation, and the open-ended structure of the game means you’re free to take on things how you want and when you want.
There’s an ample arsenal of overpowered weapons that just do a lot to help Crackdown’s fairly repetitive gameplay loop.
If you can overlook its somewhat dated feel, Crackdown 3 still has an enjoyable single-player story to romp through, as well as the Wrecking Zone multiplayer mode with its more realistic destruction effects.
Though neither quite deliver on expectations, if you’ve got an Xbox Game Pass subscription, you can check it out as part of the service’s library.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
One of the most eagerly anticipated titles to release in 2019 so far, FromSoftware’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is another stellar combat-focused adventure title, with every last drop of challenging difficulty poured into the mix as you’d expect. This time, players are following the adventure of the One-Armed Wolf, a Shinobi tasked with protecting the young lord.
Fortunately, you’re a pretty bad-ass dude and can resurrect after death… provided you have a resurrection charge to do so, of course. While there’s plenty of similarities to the Soulsborne titles, such as a similar bonfire system, punishing boss battles, and a world teeming with lore, the game does have some distinct difference.
It’s been stripped back largely of some of the Souls series’ more complex RPG elements, and thanks to Wolf’s grappling hook, traversal feels more fluid and interesting due to the world’s greater verticality.
On the flip-side, it introduces the Dragonrot system, which results in the spread of a deadly disease through the world every time you die. This has knock-on consequences as a result, and dying completely sees you lose a chunk of money and XP, so the punishment for getting to grips with the brick-wall-esque difficulty can be infuriating.
Still, if you’re up for the challenge, Sekiro is another delightfully rewarding experience when all is said and done. It’s not going to be for everyone, but for those who can master its combat and overcome its formidable boss battles, this is a gem.
Published: Apr 9, 2019 10:08 am